Starter switch for motor vehicles



June 16, 1942. l. C. MORRIS 2,286,921

STARTER SWITCH FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed May a, 1941 9 INVENTOR 'ff i a' myfmf..

u, u mun \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\v ATTOR N EYS Patented June 16, 1942 UNITED STATES,-

QFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a `starter switch for motor vehicles and has for an object to provide a starter switch which will facilitate starting an accidentally stalled motor, which cannot be perated when the engine is running, which will close the starter circuit each time the ignition switch is closed, and which will automatically open the starter circuit and hold it open after the engine starts running.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which will be formed of a few strong, simple and durable parts, which will be inexpen" sive to manufacture, and which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to Within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacri'licing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view, with parts in elevation, showing a starter switch oons'tructed in accordance with the invention in 01T position with the motor not running.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the switch in on or motor starting position.

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 1 but showing the switch. held in off position when the motor is running.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Figure l.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail sectional View showing the resilient switch contact of the switch and its securing bolt.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, 9 designates a base of insulating material which is mounted by an angle bracket li) on the rear side of the instrument board Il, immediately below the rear end of the barrel l2 of the ignition switch i3, as best shown in Figure 4.

A contact bolt i4 passes through the base and is connected. by a conductor wire l5 to the battery IE5 of the motor vehicle. The contact bolt forms the xed contact of the starter switch.

The resilient switch contact of the starter switch comprises a spring blade l1, which is secured at one end to the base by a bolt I8, the bolt being connected by a conductor Wire I9 to the starter of the motor vehicle engine, not shown. The free end of the spring blade is bent upon itself to provide a contact 2t which overlies the head of the contact bolt ld. A metal wear strip 2l is secured to the bolt IB at one end and the free end projects forwardly beyond the contact A strip of insulating material 22 is disposed between the wear strip and the spring blade I1. As best shown in Figure 6, an insulating bushing is disposed upon the bolt I8, underneath the nuts thereof, and coacts with the insulating strip in preventing the current reaching the wear strip.

A trigger is pivotaliy mounted at the upper end on a pivot pin 26 which projects from the rear end of the barrel l2 of the ignition switch. The trigger passes downwardly through a slot 21 in the base. The trigger is provided with a shoulder 2S adapted to hook over the free end of the wear strip when the ignition switch barrel l2 is turned from the ofi position with the motor not running, as shown in Figure 1, to the position to turn the ignition on, as shown in Figure 2, and move the contact 2i) of the spring blade I1 into engagement with the Contact bolt i4 to close the starter circuit.

For opening the starter circuit and holding it open as soon as the motor starts, as best illustrated in Figure 3, a vacuum motor is provided and comprises a cylinder 29 which is open at that end confronting the trigger, and at its closed front end is provided with a iiuid medium nipple t i, which is connected by a tube 32 to the intake manifold of the engine. A piston 33 is slidahly mounted in the cylinder and is provided with a piston rod 34 which extends through a guide eye 35 on an angle bracket 35 secured to the bottoni face of the base and is provided with a terminal hook 31 which slidably fits in a longitudinal recess 35S formed in the rear side of the trigger below the 9. It will be pointed out that the slot 2l in the base is provided With an inclined rear wall 3S which permits the trigger to have swinging movement in the slot without binding against the walls of the slot.

Immediately after the motor starts vacuum from the intake manifold will pull the piston 33 from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 3, The piston rod 34 pulls the trigger from the upright position shown in Figure 2 to the rearwardly inclined position shown in Figure 3 and dislodges the shoulder 28 from the free end of the wear strip so that the spring blade l'l is freed and disengages the contact 20 thereof from the contact bolt I4 to break the starter circuit. While the engine is running, vacuum from the intake manifold holds the piston at its inward limit of movement in the cylinder and holds the trigger out of engagement with the wear strip of the spring contact blade of the starter switch so that the starter circuit cannot be accidentally closed.

When the ignition switch is turned off, the

barrel l2 is rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 2, and a pin 40 disposed on the barrel I2 of the ignition switch engages the trigger 25 and swings the trigger in a direction away from the cylinder of the vacuum motor to return the trigger to its normal position, as shown in Figure 1, ready to close the starter circuit when the ignition switch is next turned on.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood without further expla# nation.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with the lock barrel of an ignition switch, of a starter switch disposed below the lock barrel including an insulating base, a xed contact on the base adapted to be connected to a source of electricity, a resilient contactsecured at one end to the base and adapted to be connected in a starter circuit, a trigger disposed substantially vertical and pivotally connected at the upper end to the lock barrel, said trigger being adapted to engage the Vresilient contact and move it to circuit closing position on the fixed Contact, a vacuum cylinder on the base adapted to Vbe connected to the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, a piston in the cylinder engaging the trigger adapted to swing the trigger out of engagement with the resilient contact when the piston is moved responsive to vacuum created in the cylinder when the engine starts, and a pin on the lock barrel adapted to engage the trigger when the ignition switch is turned to 01T position and move the trigger to initial position.

2. rIhe combination with the lock barrel of an ignition switch, of a starter switch disposed below the lock barrel including an insulating base, a fixed contact on the base adapted to be connected to a source of electricity, a resilient contact secured at one end to the base and adapted Vt0 be connected in a starter circuit, Va trigger disposed substantially vertical and pivotally connected at the upper end to the lock barrel, said trigger being adapted to engage'the resilient contact and move it to circuit closing position on the fixed contact, there being a longitudinal slot in the base through which the lower end of the trigger projects, said trigger being rockably mounted in the slot, a vacuum cylinder on the base adapted to be connected to the intakev manifold of an internal combustion engine, a piston in the cylinder engaging the trigger adapted to swing theV trigger out of engagement with the resilient contact when the piston is moved responsive to vacuum created in the cylinder when the engine starts, and a pin on the lockbarrel adapted to engage the trigger when the ignition switch is turned to off position and move the trigger to initial position.

`IVEY C. MORRIS. 

